Adjustable reading table



Aug. 7, 1951 J. H. BASI NGER ADJUSTABLE READING TABLE Filed Oct. 25. 1949 INVENTOR' James H ,Bisizgger D? ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE READING TABLE James H. Basinger, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application October 25, 1949, Serial No. 123,451

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable reading table adapted for reading, writing, etc., such as may be employed as lap tables or supported in a convenient position on a desk or other support for this purpose.

Various tables adapted for this purpose have been suggested heretofore, but most of these have been unsatisfactory because of their complex structures and expensive manufacture, whereby they have not been very successful in the trade. Where they have been adapted for folding, they do not fold to sufficiently light and compact relation.

The object of the invention is to so construct a table of the character described that it may be folded compactly when not in use and yet be sturdy and rigid when set up for use, while still light in weight and inexpensive of manufacture.

This object may be accomplished according to one embodiment. of the invention by constructing the table with a supporting surface, such as an upright plate which is held in a propped position by a bracing framework constructed to be collapsed and folded into compact relation with the supporting surface. This reduces the cost of construction to a minimum, provides a practical and effective structure in use, and makes it possible to fold the device to compact relation when not in use.

This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the embodiment described;

Fig. 2 is a cross section therethrough on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the table in collapsed position; and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section through a portion thereof on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

In the form of table illustrated in the drawings as an embodiment of this invention, a supporting surface for reading or writing purposes, as desired, is provided by an upright plate, generally designated at I, having a downturned top edge 2 and opposite lateral edges 3 forming flanges on the plate, which latter is shown as made of sheet metal for purpose of illustration. The lower edge of the supporting surface I is turned outward in the form of a flange 4 to provide a ledge for supporting a book or other material on the supporting surface I.

Extending in longitudinal alignment with the supporting plate I is a hinge section 5 which also has a flange 6 turned upward to form the back of the ledge i, preferably being welded 2 or otherwise joined thereto at the top. This flange 6 may be omitted, however, if desired, but will form a more effective support for the article. The opposite ends of the hinge member 5 are turned down at i and overlapped at 8 by the adjacent ends of the flanges 3 on the plate I.

The supporting surface I is adapted to be held in its raised position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or to be collapsed flat upon the surface or desk where it may rest, as illustrated. in Fig. 3. A supporting frame structure is illustrated in the embodiment shown as a base structure provided with means for propping and holding the supporting surface I in its upright position, or this frame structure may be collapsed to allow the folding of the surface, as described. This supporting frame structure includes a wire frame, preferably formed of spring steel or other suitable material.

Opposite base side members are shown at 9, joined together at their forward ends by a hinge bar If] enclosed by a rolled edge portion II formed as a downturned flange on the hinge member 5, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The side members 9 preferably are braced by an interposed spacer I2 welded, soldered or otherwise secured between these side members. The back ends of the side members 9 are turned upward at I3, with the upper ends of the portions I3 hinged at It to the lower ends of prop members I5, one on each side. These prop members I5 also preferably are connected together by a spacer bar It welded or otherwise secured therebetween to form a uniform prop device hinged to the base support 9I3. The upper ends of the prop members I5 are turned outward in the form of pins If in position for selective engagement in holes H3 spaced at intervals in the flange 3 for engaging therein to hold the supporting surface I in different angular positions with respect to the prop device 9--Iii and the desk or other support for the table. This in turn will vary the angle of the supporting surface I relative to the desk or other support upon which the table is set.

The prop members I5 preferably are formed of spring steel, and the brace I6 therebetween is spaced sufliciently far away from the outturned pins I! that the upper end portions of these prop members will spring toward and from each other when grasped manually. Consequently, the pins I? may be disengaged from the orifices I8 either for collapsing or for adjustment of the angle of the surface. When these upper end portions are forced toward each other, the

pins 11 may be drawn inward to clear the flanges 3, and then the pins are allowed to engage in the desired orifices and will maintain the propped position of the supporting surface when set up. Moreover, the spring action of these members will enable them to be turned downward in the collapsed position of the table, as shown in Fig. 3, and to maintain frictionally the prop structure in its collapsed relation because of the yielding pressure of these pins against the inturned flanges 3 insuch position, as shown in Fig. 3.

By forming the supporting structure that holds the member I in its adjusted position, of spring steel, this device can be fabricated inexpensively and yet is light in weight, so that the table may be carried from place to place, as desired. However, any suitable material may be used for this purpose.

The table may be set up or collapsed readily and quickly, and when in its set up position it is evident that a secure supporting prop is provided either fo'r reading or writing. It may be placed on a desk or other suitable support, or even on the lap as is frequently desirable, and forms an effective support for books, papers, etc. The Width of the supporting surface I may be varied according'to the purpose for which the table is adapted to be used. It may be used for supporting stenographe'r notebooks, or made wider to accommodate larger books or papers, as desired.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention, except as specified in the claim.

I claim:

A table comprising an upright support having downturned flanges at opposite edges thereof, each of said flanges having openings therein spaced lengthwise thereof, a supporting ledge at the lower edge portion of the supporting plate, a hinge member secured to the lower edge of the supporting plate, a wire frame base structure including opposite side members, hinge means attached to the opposite side members and forming a hinge support for the base structure with the hinge member, said base side members having upturned portions thereon, a spacer element connecting said base side member together, opposite side prop members pivoted at their lower ends to the upper ends of the upturned portions, said prop members being formed of spring metal and having out-turned upper end portions, a spacer element connecting said prop members intermediate their respective ends, said out-turned upper ends being positioned for selective engagement in the openings in the flanges to hold the supporting plate in an upright position and detachable therefrom to provide for collapsing of said table. 7 A

' JAMES H. BASINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 749,670 Gardner Jan. 12, 1 904 1,116,016 Cochran NoV. 1914 1,878,529 Kurowski 1 1 Sept. 20, 1932 

